Re: 2015 Attendance Thread : Tue Mar 17, 2015 9:43 am
FearTheVee wrote:
That's clearly not true. The structure DOES define the importance of games.
It previously made it more important to finish 8th than 9th, it now makes it more important to finish 4th than 5th.
Leeds finished 6th last year - if they do the same again this year, try telling their fans that the games they lost weren't important as they're watching the play-offs on TV.
After we came back to win at Wakey, then won with a weakened team at Widnes, I thought "we'll look back on those wins as massive later this year".
Would I have thought the same under last year's system? Probably not.
It previously made it more important to finish 8th than 9th, it now makes it more important to finish 4th than 5th.
Leeds finished 6th last year - if they do the same again this year, try telling their fans that the games they lost weren't important as they're watching the play-offs on TV.
After we came back to win at Wakey, then won with a weakened team at Widnes, I thought "we'll look back on those wins as massive later this year".
Would I have thought the same under last year's system? Probably not.
Similarly, I saw our recent game over Huddersfield as much bigger this year. If Leeds have ideals on the top four (and I'm pretty sure they do), then Huddersfield represents one of the biggest risks to that ambition. Beating them might only be two points on the table, but it's much more important when there are fewer 'prime' places up for grabs.
Any new structure would take time to bed in and create the level of 'drama' that we need, but that's true of all sports. Even in the Premier League, you don't start hearing phrases like "must win relegation six-pointer" until well into the new year. I think the new structure has some positive signs, but it might be a year or even two before we start to see the full effects.
The proof of this new system, for me, will come in the middle eights. I've no concerns with the play-offs - that will establish itself very quickly, but the relegation / promotion aspect will make or break this structure. If we have a situation where the Championship clubs can compete and one or two come up every season, then the system will create enough jeopardy to succeed. If we have a situation year-on-year where the bottom four in SL just come straight back up, then we will have achieved very little.